The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Tuesday issued a scathing statement against veteran journalist Karen Davila, accusing her of spreading “blatant falsehoods” during a televised interview about Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged plans should she run for president in 2028.
The controversy stems from Davila’s June 30 interview with former PCGG Commissioner Atty. Ruben Carranza on ANC’s Headstart, where she claimed—citing unnamed sources—that Duterte, if elected president, would bring back the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to “prosecute the Marcoses and get back the ill-gotten wealth.”
The OVP strongly denied the statement, calling it “entirely fabricated and has no basis in fact.”
“Vice President Duterte has never made such a statement, nor has she expressed any intent or issued any policy direction remotely similar to what Ms. Davila irresponsibly and recklessly attributed to unnamed ‘sources,’” the statement read.
It further accused Davila of disguising unverified gossip as journalism by relying on anonymous sources. The OVP cited the Code of Ethics of the Philippine Press Institute, which urges media practitioners to avoid broadcasting unverified reports.
The Vice President’s office also urged Davila and ABS-CBN News Channel to uphold journalistic responsibility and warned that they are “reserving all rights to pursue appropriate remedies” to defend Duterte’s credibility.
